Why is fat on the abdomen increasing with age and how to fight it

Scientists have discovered « fatty » cells of middle age

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American scientists have found that with age in our body, new stem cells are activated, which actively produce adipose tissue – especially in the abdomen.

They can be the cause of age -related weight gain – even with constant body weight, according to the results of the study, Posted In Science, writes Neuroscience News.

The fat in the waist area after 40 years is not only aesthetic but also a serious metabolic problem. Visceral fat slows metabolism, accelerates aging and increases the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and even some forms of cancer.

But why with age the stomach grows even in those who retain stable weight? Researchers from the City of HOPE (USA), one of the leading institutes in the field of diabetes and cancer treatment, gave the answer to this.

”We found that aging triggers the appearance of a unique type of cp-a stem cells that create fat with extraordinary intensity-especially around the abdomen at middle age« , – explains Dr. Quun Van.

Unlike young stem cells, which with age lose the ability to divide, APC cells (fatty predecessors) are on the contrary with increasing age of human age.

Researchers conducted a series of experiments on mice and confirmed the conclusions on human tissues. For this purpose, they transplanted the APC cells of young and old mice to other young individuals.

It turned out that APC from old mice quickly began to create a huge number of new fat cells, even in the young body. That is, the « age » of cells determines their fatty activity.

Analyzing the genetic activity of APC cells with the help of unicellular RNAs of class, scientists have noticed that in young mice, these cells are almost not active, but at the middle age-on the contrary are extremely activated.

« This is the first proof that the abdomen grows not only by increasing cell size but also by creating new fat cells »,-said the co-author of the study, Professor Adolfo Garcia-Okan.

Scientists have also identified the key molecular mechanism that controls this process. It is a signal path of Lifr (Leukemia Inhibitory Factor Receptor). In young mice, it is inactive, and at the middle age becomes the main « switch » to start fat.

”We proved that the path Lifr activates cp-a cells and makes them massively create new fat cells« , – Van explains.

Scientists have explored human tissues collected in people of all ages, and found similar dynamics. At average age, the number of CP-A cells in white adipose tissue increases. This means that the mechanism found in mice works for people.

« Understanding the role of CP-A cells gives us new opportunities to control age obesity and improve health in adulthood« , – adds the author of the study.